Champions hockey: India out of race for finals
01 July, 2007
Boom (Belgium): India were ousted from the race for a place in the finals of the Champions Challenge hockey tournament Saturday when toppers New Zealand and Argentina played out a 3-3 draw and ensured their places in Sunday's title clash. India, placed third with six points, were praying for a New Zealand win that would have given Prabodh Tirkey's side a chance to qualify for the final with a big win over the bottom-placed Japan later Saturday. The draw between New Zealand (11 points) and Argentina (10) has meant India's last league match against Japan has only academic value. India's road to the finals of the six-nation tournament became bumpy when they were beaten 1-2 by Argentina in a scrappy encounter Thursday. In Saturday's match, Phillip Burrows gave New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute and Lucas Vila equalised for Argentina in the 16th minute. Juan Garreta put Argentina ahead 2-1 in the 27th minute. In the 46th minute, Hayden Shaw brought New Zealand at par again, 2-2. Vila then put Argentina in the lead, 3-2, with his 68th minute strike off a penalty corner. Shaw then scored the most important goal for the Kiwis in the 70th minute.
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